Combined rule and case.



H. M. GOULD.

COMBINED RULE AND CASE.

APPLICATION FILED AUG-25. 1911.

1,262,038. I Patented Apr. 9,1918.

W5 fi fl ANT FMJ EQV HARRY M. GOULD, 0F PORTLAND, MAINE, ASSIGNOR TO GOULD TERI-MITRE RULE CASE COMPANY, OF PORTLAND, MAINE, A CURPORATION 0F MAINE.

COMBINED RULE AND CASE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. a, rare.

To all whom it may concern;

Be it known that I, HARRY M. GOULD, a citizen of the United States, residing at Portland,' in the county of Cumberland and State of Maine, have invented certain. new and useful Improvements in Combined Rules and Cases, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to a combination rule case designed primarily to contain. the

ordinary two foot rule which is made in four pieces and folded together twice. The object of my invention is to construct a case for such a rule in which, the rule will fit snugly and to provide the case with means whereby it may be joined with the opened rule to form a try-square, bevel, on other like instrument.

A carpenter ordinarily carries a two foot rule in his pocket and he frequently has occasion to saw off a board or a piece of joist when he has no square or bevel at hand.

If he is carrying a two foot rule fitted into my case, he will be able instantly to convert the rule and case into an instrument for cutting off boards either with a square cut or on a miter.

My invention consists essentially of a piece of sheet metal or other resilient material bent to form a short channel bar with a web and side flanges, the rule when folded fitting snugly in the case so formed. The rule is held in the case by the resiliency of the walls of the case the edge of the flanges being preferably slightly thickened for this purpose. The try-square and bevel are made by forming in the web side of the case transverse slots or recesses into which the rule will fit when open.

The slots penetrate deep enough into the flanges to bring the outer surface of the rule beneath the level of the web. In the preferable form of my device the projecting portion of the center hinge joint is used as a locking device to retain the rule in place while it is being used in its converted form. In this form of the device a lateral recess is made in one end of each slot in the web so that the hinge will pass through this recess and permit the rule to be moved longitudinally to bring the hinge beneath the web and this forms a lock to hold the two parts together.

My invention may best be understood by reference to the accompanying drawing in which I show the preferable form of my invention.

In the drawing:

Figure 1 is a perspective view with the rule folded andin place. inthe. case.

2 is the same view. with the rule removed.

Fig. 3 is a plan ofthe case with the open rule inserted to form a bevel and i Fig) 4 isv a, section taken on the line 1- 1 of Fig.3. i l

The, case is made preferably of thin cold rolled steel bent in the form of a channel bar with a web. 2 and two flanges The case is formed the exact size of the rule when the latter is folded and the slight elasticity of the flanges holds the rule in Pl T v nc as t holding fiTect I may fold or hem the edges of the flanges as shown at 4 in Fig. 4.

The rule is attached to the case in open position to form the arms of a try-square or bevel by forming transverse slots 5, 6 and 7 across the web portion of the case, these slots extending far enough into the case so that the rule when unfolded and fitted into the slots will penetrate far enough to bring the outer surface of the rule just beneath the inner or under surface of the web.

The slots 5 and 6 extend across the case making an angle of 45 degrees with the edge of the case while the recess 7 makes a right angle.

For the purpose of locking the rule and the case together I form in the edge of each of the slots at or near one of its ends a recess 8 sufficiently large to allow the hinge joint 9 of the rule to pass down through it.

By pushing the rule longitudinally a short distance the joint is brought beneath the web at one side of the recess 8 and thereby acts to lock the parts firmly together.

A rule case constructed in this manner is very convenient as a means of carrying the rule and it may be very quickly converted into a drawing instrument. If desired the recess 8 may be omitted and the open rule snapped into place in the recesses. In this instance the flanges of the case Will yield slightly so that when the rule is an exact fit there will be no trouble about holding it in place.

Rules of this type as they are sold on the market will vary slightly in size and in that 1.19

case this form illustrated will provide for any slight variation in width, thickness, etc. I claim 1. A combination rule case for rules of the described type, said case consisting of a sheet of resilient material bent to form an open channel within which the folded rule fits, a series of transverse slots being formed in the web portion and the side flanges of the channel and adapted to receive the rule when in its open position to form a try-square or other like instrument.

2. A combination rule case for rules of the described type, said case consisting of a sheet of resilient material bent to form an open channel within which the folded rule fits, a series of transverse slots being formed in the web portion and side flanges of the channel adapted to receive and retain the rule when in its open position to form a try-square or other like instrument, the openings in the flanges being deep enough to Ilgring the surface of the rule beneath the we 3. A combination rule case for rules of the described type, consisting of a sheet of resilient material bent to form an open channel within which the folded rule fits, a

series of transverse slots being formed in the web and side flanges of the channel adapted to receive the open rule to form a try-square or other like instrument, the said recess extending deep enough into said flanges to bring the surface of the rule beneath the level of the web and a lateral recess being formed in the edge of each slot to admit the main joint of the rule and allow it to be pushed into a locking position to lock said case and rule together.

4. A combination rule case for rules of the described type, said case consisting of a sheet of resilient material bent to form an open channel within which the folded rule fits, a series of transverse slots being formed in the web portion and the side flanges of the channels and adapted to re ceive the rule when in its openposition to form a try-square or other like instrument, the outer edges of the flanges being thickenied for gripping the edges of the folded ru e.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

HARRY M. GOULD.

copies of this patent may be obtained tor five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Iatents,

. Washington, D. G. 

